Devices for operating windows

ABSTRACT

A rack and pinion device with cam designed to hold the rack in a selected position in combination with a piston and cylinder arrangement operated by movement of the rack for producing and controlling hydraulic pressure, and the complete drive system wherein said device is arranged to actuate the hydraulic circuits in sealing, moving or locking of casement windows.

United States Patent Inventors Werner Frach Friedenstrasse 16, 858 Bayreuth; Bernhard J anke, Kulmbach, both of Germany Appl. No. 11,691

Filed Feb. 16,1970

Patented Dec. 21, 1971 Assignee said Frach by said Janke Priority Feb. 20, 1969 Germany P 19 08 367.1

DEVICES FOR OPERATING WINDOWS 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl F01!) 9/00 Field of Search 92/138,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,433,018 3/1969 Goehler 60/546 FOREIGN PATENTS 379,040 3/1940 Italy 74/33 Primary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan Assistant Examiner-R. H. Lazarus At!0rneyNolte and Nolte ABSTRACT: A rack and pinion device with cam designed to hold the rack in a selected position in combination with a piston and cylinder arrangement operated by movement of the rack for producing and controlling hydraulic pressure, and the complete drive system wherein said device is arranged to actuate the hydraulic circuits in sealing, moving or locking of casement windows.

an PAIENIEUmmm-n 3628,426

SHEET 1 BF 2 v INVENTOR WERNER FRACH AT TO NEYS DEVICES FOR OPERATING WINDOWS This invention relates to a device in window constructions for the controlled operation of one or more piston and cylinder arrangements in the hydraulic operation of the window or for bringing about the window functions of sealing, locking, moving and the like.

In addition, this invention relates to a complete drive provided with such a device for hydraulic circuits in window constructions. A drive of this type can be used to advantage wherever the sealing, moving or locking of the window casement in the fixed frame occurs hydraulically. It is particularly suitable for use with the window mounting and sealing system disclosed in applicants copending application Ser. No. 7,084, filed Jan. 30, 1970.

The known parts on the device according to the invention or on the drive according to the invention are limited to the components normally belonging to a piston and cylinder arrangement, namely the piston, the cylinder, the connecting bores for the hydraulic pipes provided in the cylinder wall and the sealing means for sealing the piston in relation to the cylinder wall.

Piston cylinder arrangements previously proposed in con nection with window constructions have a manually operated piston and a separate and likewise manually adjustable control means for controlling the supply or discharge of the pressure medium in the cylinder on one or both sides of the piston, valves being provided for the control of the amount of pressure medium flowing in or out, and additional storage containers being necessary for the excess amount of pressure medium.

Such previously proposed devices are relatively complicated, particularly as a result of their valve control; their arrangement in the parts of the window construction, for example in the fixed frame or in the light frame, causes great difficulties as regards the large number of components and the bulky storage container to be arranged in the space.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a simple device or drive of the type first mentioned, which has an uncomplicated and direct acting control and which makes possible a compact construction.

According to the present invention, a device in window constructions for the controlled operation of one or more piston and cylinder arrangements for the hydraulic operation of the window or for bringing about the window functions of sealing, locking, moving and the like, includes one or more rotatably mounted pinion wheels cooperating with a displaceably mounted rack, the rack or racks being connected respectively to a movable part of a piston cylinder arrangement, and rotatable cam disks are provided with the pinion wheels, which are suitably arranged and constructed for cooperating with counterstops fixed to the racks, such that the racks in one region of the angle of rotation of the cam disks can be brought out of engagement with the pinion wheels and in the same and/or another region of the angle of rotation can be locked against a compressive force acting in the opposite direction to the sliding movement of the racks.

A complete drive according to the invention includes, in a preferred embodiment, a device of this type with two piston cylinder arrangements acting alternately, associated pinion wheels and cam disks rotatable on a common shaft, and the cam disks associated with the different pinion wheels or racks being arranged on the shaft staggered by 180.

The racks can lie opposite each other with reference to the shaft, i.e., uniform movements of the pistons may be obtained due to opposed movements of the racks.

With a drive of this type, the device is arranged inside a housing, both of the cylinders having connecting bores for the hydraulic pipes.

The operation of the drive can take place in a simple manner in that the shaft is connected to a hand lever or a bandle (see H in FIG. 4).

The drive represents a unit of the actual drive device for producing the pressure or suction in the hydraulic pipes and the associated control means. By means of the rotation of the shaft, increase or decrease in pressure in the hydraulic pipes connected to the two cylinder bores and the control of these processes is effected. By this means, the invention completely avoids the use of complicated control means, such as valves. Thus the control of the drive requires no additional operations beyond the movement of the piston due to the rotation of the shaft; it comes into action immediately and without delay; moreover, its susceptibility to trouble is very slight. Pressure containers or other equalizing containers for the hydraulic fluid are not necessary with the drive or device according to the invention. For this reason, but also as a result of the avoidance of complicated control elements, a compact construction of the drive is possible, so that the latter can be easily accommodated in a part of the frame of the window construction.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an installation of a drive according to the invention, in diagrammatic illustration;

FIG. 2 is a view of the drive according to the invention, in part section;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the drive according to the invention, on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the device of FIG. 2, in partial section.

In FIG. 1, the drive according to the invention, is shown together with the pressure hoses 1, 2 and 3 arranged in the frame part of the window. In this example it is a matter of an embodiment of a window, in which, as already suggested in said copending application, the sealing and locking and also, if necessary, the holding and moving of the window frame in the fixed frame is brought about or at least partly brought about by the hydraulic arrangement. In the window construction according to FIG. 1, it is possible either to pivot the window encasement about the vertical axis 29 or to tilt it about the horizontal axis 30, the changeover from pivoting to tilting or vice versa simply taking place by rotating the shaft 19 of the drive according to the invention. If the hydraulic hoses 3 and 2 are not pressurized, then the window can be pivoted about the axis 29, since the window encasement is only connected to the fixed frame by means of the pressure hose 1. By emptying the pressure hoses 3 and 1, the window encasement can be tilted about the axis 30, only the filled pressure hose 2 providing a movable connection between the window casement and the fixed frame in the region of the lower cross piece of the frame.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the drive according to the invention, is shown in detail. It consists substantially of two pinion wheels 4 and 16 which rotate with the shaft 19; the pinion wheel 16 cannot be seen in FIG. 2, since it is covered by the pinion wheel 4. Associated with the pinion wheel 4 and likewise connected to rotate with the shaft 19 is a double cam disk 13, whose congruent parts are arranged on both sides of the pinion wheel, as clearly shown in FIG. 4 A similar cam disk 15 is associated with the pinion wheel 16 and staggered by with respect to the cam disk 13. During the rotation of the shaft 19, the pinion wheel 4 cooperates with the rack 10; the pinion wheel 16 engages in the second. rack 9 arranged in an opposed position in relation to the shaft 19. At their outer ends the racks 10 or 9 are connected, respectively, to pistons 11 or 12 mounted to reciprocate in associated cylinders 20, 21. Between the pistons and the ends of the racks there are mounted guide discs 27 or 28, respectively. The pistons are sealed with respect to the cylinder walls and have cylindrical projections 24, 14 on their front sides, which engage in an airtight manner in corresponding recesses 25, 26 of the end walls 22, 23. The seal is achieved by providing these projections with lateral sealing elements 31, 32, which are constructed such that they allow hydraulic fluid to flow out of the respective cylinder bore, but not to flow back, even if there is reduced pressure in the cylinder bore. The recesses 25, 26 are connected to the connecting bores 6 or 8. In addition to these connecting bores, the end walls of the cylinders have further rain:

connecting bores 5, 7, which open out directly into the cylinder bores. At their inner ends, the racks 10, 9 are provided with pairs of counterstops 17, 18. These stops have a suitable shape for the rolling or sliding cooperation with the cam disks connected to the pinion wheels.

In FIG. 2, the drive according to the invention, is shown in the exact initial position, i.e., both pistons 11 and 12 are extended and thus all the connecting bores and the adjoining hydraulic hoses are pressurized. Now if the shaft 19 is turned further, out of the position shown in FIG. 3, in a clockwise direction, then the cam disk 13 presses against the stop of the rack 17 so that the rack 17 moves to the left according to arrow a (FIG. 2) and comes out of engagement with the pinion wheel 4. In this position of the pinion wheel 4 and also in the adjacent region of the angle of rotation, with rotation in the same direction, due to the abutment of the cam disk 13 on the stop 17, the rack 10 is held against the pressure in the cylinder bore of the piston 1 1 in the position extended towards the left.

At the same time as this rotation of the shaft in clockwise direction, the rack 9 comes into engagement with the pinion wheel 16 and is displaced to the left in a direction according to arrow b, i.e., the piston 12 produces a suction and the hydraulic hoses connected by means of the connecting bores 7 and 8 to the inner bore of the. cylinder 21 are emptied into the cylinder bore.

If the shaft 19 is turned out of the position shown in FIG. 2 in counterclockwise direction, then the rack 10 is again brought into engagement with the pinion wheel 4 and the rack 10 moves the piston 11 in a direction opposite to the arrow a, so that the hydraulic hoses connected to the connecting bores and 6 are emptied into the cylinder bore between end wall 22 and the piston 11. During this rotation of the shaft 19, the rack 9 is held in the extended position shown in FIG. 2 by the abutment of the cam disk 15 on the corresponding stops 18.

In FIG. 3, the pinion wheel 4 with the cam disk 13 and the rack 10, is shown on an enlarged scale. In this case the position of the cam disk 13, in relation to the position shown in FIG. 2 is rotated slightly in counterclockwise direction, i.e., the cam disk 13 is shown exactly in that position in which it releases the counterstop 17; in this position of rotation of the pinion wheel 4 the initial engagement of the pinion wheel 4 in the rack is illustrated. Upon further rotation of the shaft 19 in a counterclockwise direction, the rack 10 is moved towards the right, i.e., in the direction of the pinion wheel.

FIG. 4 shows the part of the housing 33 of the drive according to the invention, in which the shaft 19 is mounted in the bearings 34 and 35. The pinion wheels 4 and 16 are shown in section. A comparison of the divided cam disks and 16 shows that they are staggered through 180 relative to each other on both sides of the pinion wheels. The racks l0, 9 are arranged on guides 36, 37.

The method of operation of the drive according to the invention, when used in a window construction illustrated in FIG. 1 is as follows:

On rotating the shaft 19 from the initial position shown in FIG. 2 in a counterclockwise direction, and in fact through 180, the piston 11 is drawn inwards by means of the rack 10 and sucks the hydraulic fluid out of the hoses 3, 2 connected to the connecting bores 5, 6. In this position, the window can be opened by pivoting about the axis of rotation 29. Since the hydraulic hose 3 is connected to the connecting bore 7 by a connecting pipe 38, in the cylinder bore of the piston 12 there is also suction. However, this suction cannot continue through the connecting bore 8 into the hydraulic hose 1, since the cylinder bore of the piston 12 is sealed by its cylindrical projection l4 and the seal 32 in relation to the connecting bore 8, so that the hydraulic hose 1 cannot be emptied.

On turning the shaft 19 back into the initial position, the hydraulic hoses 2 and 3 fill up. By this means the pressure is also transmitted through the connecting pipe 38 into the cylinder bore of the piston 12 and from there through the connecting bore 8 into the hose 1, since the seal 32 allows a flow in this direction. If there is a possible, previous fall in ressure in the hose 1, this is prompt y compensated for. In t 's position, the cam disk 13 pushes the rack 10 out of the range of engagement of the pinion wheel 4.

Now if the shaft 19 and with it the pinion wheels 4 and 16 are rotated further in a clockwise direction, and in fact through then the cam disk 13 keeps the rack 10 out of engagement and presses the latter and thus the piston 11 outwardly. Meanwhile the rack 9 is released from the cam disk 15 and comes into engagement with the pinion wheel 16. Due to this means, the piston 12 is drawn inwardly, so that the hydraulic hoses l and 3 empty. In this position, the window can be tilted about the tilting axis 30. When the window is closed again, i.e., on turning back the shaft 19 in counterclockwise direction into the initial position illustrated in H6. 2, the cam disk 15 pushes the rack 9 out of the range of engagement of the pinion wheel 16, so that both racks are out of engagement in this position (initial position).

There may also be provided between the pistons 11, 12 and the corresponding front walls of the cylinders 22, 23, spring means 11A having spring force tending to pull the piston in the extended position inwards and thus to facilitate the engagement of the teeth of the pinion wheels in the racks.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for sealing, moving and like operations of a window, comprising: at least one piston and cylinder arrangement for hydraulic operation of the window; at least one rotatable pinion and displaceable rack releasably engaged with one another, the rack being firmly engaged with a moveable part of the piston and cylinder arrangement and bearing a counterstop; and a cam disc rotatable with the pinion to engage and disengage said counterstop so as to allow and release said engagement of the pinion and rack in different angular regions of the disc and pinion rotation, whereby the rack through the piston and cylinder arrangement alternately applies and releases a locking force to the window.

2. A device according to claim 1, which includes a plurality of piston and cylinder arrangements, and a plurality of associated pinion wheels and cam disks fixed on a common rotatable shaft, the cam disks associated with the different pinion wheels or racks being adapted to be staggered in relation to each other.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein with two pistons and cylinder arrangements acting alternately the cam disks are arranged to be staggered by 180 relative to each other.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the racks are arranged to lie opposite in relation to the shaft.

5. A drive for hydraulic circuits in window constructions with a device according to claim 3, arranged in a housing, each of the two cylinders having connecting bores for the hydraulic pipes.

6. A drive according to claim 5, characterized in that at least a part of each connecting bore is provided in the end walls of the cylinders, and that the respective pistons have cylindrical projections on the front side, which in the extended position of the piston form a seal with corresponding recesses in the cylinder end wall, the recesses being connected to one or more connecting bores.

7. A drive according to claim 5, wherein the shaft with the pinion wheels and cam disks is provided with a handle or lever at right angles to the axis of the shaft.

8. A drive according to claim 5, wherein inside the housing there are provided guide parts for the racks.

9. A drive according to claim 5, wherein between each piston and end cylinder wall there are provided spring means which are arranged to operate in the extended position of the piston, said spring means acting in a direction opposite to that of the extending movement of the piston. 

1. A device for sealing, moving and like operations of a window, comprising: at least one piston and cylinder arrangement for hydraulic operation of the window; at least one rotatable pinion and displaceable rack releasably engaged with one another, the rack being firmly engaged with a moveable part of the piston and cylinder arrangement and bearing a counterstop; and a cam disc rotatable with the pinion to engage and disengage said counterstop so as to allow and release said engagement of the pinion and rack in different angular regions of the disc and pinion rotation, whereby the rack through the piston and cylinder arrangement alternately applies and releases a locking force to the window.
 2. A device according to claim 1, which includes a plurality of piston and cylinder arrangements, and a plurality of associated pinion wheels and cam disks fixed on a common rotatable shaft, the cam disks associated with the different pinion wheels or racks being adapted to be staggered in relation to each other.
 3. A device according To claim 2, wherein with two pistons and cylinder arrangements acting alternately the cam disks are arranged to be staggered by 180* relative to each other.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the racks are arranged to lie opposite in relation to the shaft.
 5. A drive for hydraulic circuits in window constructions with a device according to claim 3, arranged in a housing, each of the two cylinders having connecting bores for the hydraulic pipes.
 6. A drive according to claim 5, characterized in that at least a part of each connecting bore is provided in the end walls of the cylinders, and that the respective pistons have cylindrical projections on the front side, which in the extended position of the piston form a seal with corresponding recesses in the cylinder end wall, the recesses being connected to one or more connecting bores.
 7. A drive according to claim 5, wherein the shaft with the pinion wheels and cam disks is provided with a handle or lever at right angles to the axis of the shaft.
 8. A drive according to claim 5, wherein inside the housing there are provided guide parts for the racks.
 9. A drive according to claim 5, wherein between each piston and end cylinder wall there are provided spring means which are arranged to operate in the extended position of the piston, said spring means acting in a direction opposite to that of the extending movement of the piston. 